New Faces, New Friends

Grandma's Attic #9

by Arleta Richardson

Who says a small town is a dull place to live?

The logging community of North Branch, Michigan, is still a small town in 1895. But Mabel and Len Williams and their circle of friends could never be called bored. . .

Mabel finds that her position as the minister's wife doesn't protect her from small town gossip. After all, isn't it a little odd that Hudson Curtis, pastor of a neighboring church, happens to show up every time Mabel comes to town? And wasn't that his buggy seen turning down Mabel's lane the other afternoon? Even Mabel's best friend, Sarah Jane, seems troubled about something—but for the first time in her life, she won't discuss it with Mabel.

Good thing Mabel knows she can trust God in the troubled times as well as the good.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Childrens, Young Adult, Middle Grade

171 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Arleta Richardson was an author, librarian, and a teacher. The Grandma's Attic series was her most well known series. She was born in Flint, MI, and served in World War II. She belonged to the Free Methodist Church.

Reviews

[Shantelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first books of the GRANDMA'S ATTIC series by Arleta Richardson when I was younger, so reading this was so sweet! New Faces, New Friends is one of the last books in the series and is about when Mable is all grown up - married and starting her own family. I've only read one of the books when Mable was older (I think), and now that I've read this one, I want to go back and read them all!

Such a great, wholesome series, truly. I believe the stories are about the author's grandmother, which is really neat. They're heartwarming stories of family and faith, with a generous dash of humor. Mable and her friend Sarah Grace sure managed to find trouble wherever they went - even when they were adults and wives! *laughs*

The GRANDMA'S ATTIC series is definitely one I recommend for young readers and families, and just anyone who enjoys real stories from the "olden days". They're something like THE LITTLE HOUSE OF THE PRAIRIE series. I hope to read more!

[Katja Labonté · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 stars (4/10 hearts). I've never wanted so badly to reach into a book and shake or slap someone. Hudson Curtis is THE ABSOLUTE LIMIT. I could hardly stand the jellyfish, and I don’t know how the rest of the community managed to not pitch him into the lake or something. Colleen & Lorenzo made up for him by being so sweet though (my heart! Her teaching him a sign language so he could FINALLY communicate, and everyone learning it with him!!). And Mabel's adventures with newborn Alma were just hilarious (I laughed out loud when Augusta told her she was about to boil the baby like a pudding...). I'm sure this book would be so much more fun (and easier to understand) when the whole series was read in order, so I look forwards to doing that.

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This was a fun reread. I did want to tell Mabel that there are some things you just don’t keep from your husband. Ugh, Hudson! He has some serious issues about some things. Once again it was fun to have Sarah Jane, the Graysons, and all the other characters I’ve come to love in the other books.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Mom read these books to me and my siblings one year. They are the best!

[R.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series such a delight!! I love it so much! :D I chuckled so much with this one ... Mabel and Sarah Grace's personalities are hilarious!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the ninth book of the series and continues to be a pleasurable re-read for me. Reading these as an adult some-20 years after my last read-through, it became clear that the author has a strong faith. The author was (after some research) a staunch Methodist. Her theological beliefs don't always jive with my own scriptural beliefs, but I don't think that is a hindrance to enjoying these books. The things she does very well is show that Christian people do now always behave with Christ-like actions.

This book deals with the birth of Mabel's and Sarah Jane's first children. It also deals with the realities of her life as a preacher's wife and a growing town. It is not as good as her earlier narrative books, the fifth and sixth in the series, but it is very sweet.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

And the last. I think there might be more books then what I read.

[Partridge Public]

Richardson, Arleta PB

[Ashley Baker · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this was written for a younger audience so maybe my rating was a little tough. I thought the presentation of the Gospel was not entirely Biblical so I can't give it a higher rating.

[Rivkah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't a massive fan of this book. I was a little disappointed by the author.

[Abigail Whitcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

☺️

[C.G.Koens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read for me, first time read aloud for my girls (ages 6-10). The oldest got more of the humor than the younger ones did, but all of them enjoyed it, especially as Mabel and Sarah Jane have Alma and Jessica.

The biggest complaint from my oldest was the abrupt way the book ends (similar to her complaint about the ending of "At Home in North Branch"). My complaint, which I used as an opportunity to discuss with the girls, was Mabel keeping secrets from her husband, Len. Four stars for those two reasons, but everything else (the arrival of Colleen, Hudson's proposal to Elizabeth, the new school teacher's deft handling of the same poo Hudson, and more) was delightfully portrayed.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having re-read the first eight books of this series, which were childhood favorites, I’m reading this one for the first time. I’m wondering if this book and the next one are as accurate to the author’s grandmother as some of the earlier books. Overall, just a sweet set of books that tell a story about living in another time in Michigan.

[Ashlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was funny, interesting, and overall hard to put down. Mabel O'Dell Williams is back again, and this time, she's expecting a baby! With her best friend, Sarah Jane, and husband, Len, Mabel makes her way through life. Watch how rumors- and fires- spread in a small town, and see how God protects Mabel through it all.

[Olivia Lyndaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love all Arleta Richardson's books, and this one was no different.

[Wynona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series was long, but fun!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read much more of this series than I intended. It started as a children's (Grandma's Attic), but it got me hooked. Finally completed the series, and must admit I enjoyed it.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐